Like many of you, I want to be done with COVID. Unfortunately, COVID isn't done with us.

The CDC recently updated its guidelines that even vaccinated people should wear masks indoors if they live in an area where the delta variant is prevalent. Lucas County is an area where the delta variant is prevalent. As a result of the prevalence of the delta variant in Lucas County, we ask that all participants at TMC wear masks, even if you are vaccinated.

Let me try to articulate the thinking behind this in a more thorough way than I did when I made the announcement this morning during worship.

First, let me state something that is NOT a reason for doing this. We are not doing this because the vaccine is ineffective. I encourage you to get vaccinated. It is effective. The likelihood of you getting sick from COVID is very unlikely if you are vaccinated. Even if you by some chance do get sick while vaccinated, the vaccine is very effective against the disease and so it is highly unlikely that you would be seriously ill from COVID if you are vaccinated. Therefore, we are not doing this in an attempt to prevent minor diseases. If that were the case, we would have to masks for everything, and that is not prudent.

Here are the reasons for asking people to wear masks again:

• It is being shown that even vaccinated people, while not getting sick themselves, can spread the delta variant at significant rates. In order to mitigate the spread of the virus and allowing it to continue to morph into new variants, we ask that you wear a mask.

• Masks are not to keep you safe. Masks are meant to keep your neighbors safe from you. Yes, masks are a minor inconvenience. However, masks are very effective to prevent spread to others.

• We are a highly vaccinated congregation. This is good news. However, there are two situations that I am aware of in which two individuals in our congregation have unique circumstances that would be very serious if they happened to get COVID. Why would we want to jeopardize someone in our own congregation whom we know and love?

All along, the Leadership Team has said that we will take a cautious approach to this virus. To both be consistent with our own approach, and to follow the guidelines of the CDC and our local health department, the good decision right now is for us to go back to wearing masks during public worship. Until we know a bit more about the impact of the delta variant, this will be our approach.

Thank you in advance for your cooperation. Let us continue to be in thoughtful dialogue as we navigate these changing circumstances.

Grace and Peace
Pastor Joel Shenk